Quetta: Leader of the Opposition in the Balochistan Assembly, Mir Younus Aziz Zehri, sharply criticised government ministers on Friday, saying that major highways across the province remain blocked for hours as armed groups increase their presence yet officials continue to downplay the severity of the situation.
Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly in Quetta, Zehri said he had travelled from his constituency earlier that day and “knew firsthand” how difficult it had become to reach the provincial capital.
He argued that recent comments by government ministers, including Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, suggesting that armed fighters briefly appear on highways only to record TikTok videos, were misleading and disconnected from reality.
“One minister said fighters come onto the roads for only two or three minutes to record videos,” Zehri noted. “I can say with certainty that the roads remain blocked for hours. They stop people, question them, and disrupt travel. This has gone far beyond TikTok.”
“The situation today is worse,” he added. “Ask the ministers to travel by road from here to Karachi, Turbat, Panjgur, or Usta Muhammad—they cannot do it.”
Mir Younus Aziz Zehri further accused government ministers of failing to visit their constituencies for years, saying that ordinary citizens are bearing the brunt of government-imposed restrictions, including recurring internet shutdowns, security blockades, travel delays and rising unemployment. He said daily life in many districts has “nearly come to a standstill” due to the administration’s policies and lack of oversight.
